Following a day of fierce fighting in the Palestinian territories, the Israeli military declared that Gaza City was surrounded.
The Ezzedine Al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas, issued a warning to Israel, claiming that the invading forces would not be able to return home.
Speaking to Daily Trust, Hamas spokesperson Abu Obeida said that Gaza would pose a significant historical threat to Israel.
Spokesman Abu Obeida said: “Gaza will be the curse of history for Israel.”
Daniel Hagari, a spokesman for the Israeli military, acknowledged that Gaza City was completely surrounded and stressed that a ceasefire was not being discussed at this time.
“Israeli soldiers have completed the encirclement of the city of Gaza, the centre of the Hamas terror organisation,” Hagari told journalists.
“The concept of a ceasefire is not currently on the table at all,” he added.
After rocket attacks on northern Israel, Israel and Hezbollah fighters in Lebanon engaged in gunfire, raising fears that the violence would spread.
While visiting the Middle East, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken reaffirmed his commitment to halting any further escalation of the Israel-Hamas dispute. As this was going on, arrangements were underway to move 7,000 people out of Gaza via the Rafah crossing and bring other foreign nationals and dual citizens to safety in Egypt.
